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HR Management

OSHA inspector on the way! How to prepare, how to respond

07/08/2010
An unexpected visit from an OSHA inspector is often unwelcome—and unsettling, too. But if you’ve taken the time to prepare, it need not be traumatic. Planning ahead will smooth the inspection process—and put you in control of it. Plus, being prepared may make a good impression on the inspector, which could lead to being cited for fewer violations.

Crack down hard on hostile slurs and symbols

07/08/2010
Are your workers prone to crude language and behavior? If so, start making spot inspections of work sites. Your goal: Stamping out harassment that could make your organization liable for a hostile environment.

Mansfield’s dress code ruffles employees’ feathers

07/08/2010

Municipal officials in Mansfield are drawing criticism from city employees after a new dress code went into effect in June. Apparently because casual Fridays had gotten a bit too casual, the dress code spells out sartorial do’s and don’ts.

Use 3 strategies to cut health care costs

07/08/2010
“Now is the time for all of you with plan-year start dates on or near Jan. 1 to start thinking about ways to control health plan costs,” says insurance expert Nancy L. Newell. Lowering employers’ health insurance burden requires balancing three strategies: shifting more costs to employees, implementing cost savings and making plan changes.

Management 101: Five legal lessons your supervisors must learn

07/06/2010
When it comes to employment law, it’s always best for managers to learn from others’ mistakes rather than their own. Share these recent court cases—and the lessons learned—with your organization’s supervisors:

Tips for working with a younger boss

07/06/2010
Nearly half of U.S. workers work for someone younger than they are, according to a recent Career Builders survey. It’s not always easy. Here are five tips for getting along with that supervisor who was in high school when you were already well established in your career.

Shopping for employee-lawsuit insurance: 6 questions to ask

07/01/2010
Employment practice liability insurance (EPLI) covers you from employee lawsuit judgments. The jump in employee lawsuits is making EPLI a nearly must-have; so premiums are rising. Here’s how to shop for a policy …

FMLA now covers care for partner’s, other relative’s children

06/29/2010
New U.S. Department of Labor rules say employees who care for a domestic partner’s child—or whose partner gives birth or adopts a child—are now eligible to take FMLA leave to care for those children. Also covered: Extended-family members who care for kids. Learn the details of this major FMLA expansion.

Don’t waste your online recruiting budget: Ask right questions to choose best job sites

06/29/2010

Replacing employees is costly enough without frittering away your recruiting dollars on advertising that either doesn’t reach the desired candidates or results in bad hires. Too many employers take a shotgun approach, placing ads on several sites without obtaining data to help make the right choice. To get the best value for your ad dollars, ask job-board sales reps these questions:

4 key trends transforming employee assistance programs

06/29/2010

Employee assistance programs are on the rise as employers cope with higher health care costs—and employees cope with the stresses of an uncertain economy. An expert says four trends will drive EAP change in coming months, bringing cost savings for companies and better care for workers.